Thanks to a Super Bowl-caliber defensive front and the emergence of super rookie running back Todd Gurley, the St. Louis Rams have won three of their last four games and two in a row.
Based on certain trends and angles, however, the Rams could be in for a fall this Sunday as 2.5-point road underdogs to Minnesota.
St. Louis has lost 11 of the last 12 times following back-to-back victories. The last time the Rams won three consecutive games was late in the 2012 season.
Minnesota has been one of the hottest spread teams covering 14 of its last 17. Since losing on the road to San Francisco Sportsbook week, the Vikings have gone 5-1 straight-up and 6-0 against the spread (ATS).
SLUMPING BILLS HAVE TRENDS IN FAVOR
Buffalo is going the opposite way of St. Louis. The Bills have lost two straight and three of their last four games.
The Bills, though, are 11-2 ATS following consecutive defeats. Buffalo is a 3-point home favorite versus Miami. The Dolphins have failed to cover during their last six AFC East Division matchups.
The Cleveland Browns are 9-1-1 ATS the past 11 times they've been underdogs to Cincinnati. The Browns were six-point road underdogs to the Bengals last year in a Thursday night game and won, 24-3. The teams meet this Thursday and the Browns are plus 10.5.
Tampa Bay is home this week to the New York Giants. The Buccaneers are plus 2.5. They also have dropped 11 of their last 12 games at Raymond James Stadium going 3-9 ATS.
BIG OVER/UNDER FOR REDSKINS VS PATS
The largest over/under this week is 52 in the Washington-New England game. The over has cashed 68 percent of the time in the Patriots' last 54 home contests. The over also has cashed 15 of the past 19 times the Patriots have hosted an opponent with a losing road record.
Speaking of going over the total, the Oakland Raiders have gone above the total in eight of their last 10 games. The over also has cashed in nine of the Raiders' last 10 games versus AFC competition. The Raiders are at Pittsburgh with an over/under of 48.
